Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-09-30
DIR. Herbert w. Yeamans of Detroit,

DIR. Herbert w. Yeamans of Detroit,
who has for the past five years been
absent and during the most of that
time has been on the Alaska station,
having passed one year in Sitka, made
two cruises on the revenue cutter Cor
win, going through Behring's Straits
nearly as far north as where the
Jeanette was lost, visiting Point
Barrow, the northermost of the United
States possessions, and also cruising
along the entire cost and the islands
which form the most valuable portion
of the territory rs far as is known, says
Of the resolutions passed at the recent
session of the Prison Congress in
Toronto recommending the use of
Alaska as penal settlement: Laying
aside the fact that the United States
government has never favored the
scheme of penal settlements. the scheme
is impracticable. The only possible
place in the territory to establish penal
colonies are the Aleutian Islands and
they are too valuable for fishing colo
nies to be used as stamping ground for
convicts." REGARDING the future de-
velopment of the territory, DR.. Yea
mans says: The present governor,
Hon. A. P. Swneford of Michigan has
done all he could to improve the con-
dition Of things in the territory, but
unfortunately congress did not see tit
TO grant his requests, Alaska, Of all the
territories is alone denied representation
in congress, and what is worse, there
is practically no civil law there. The
United States land laws do not apply
there, and there is but one way of obtain
ing valid title to property and that is by
purchasing from some one who holds
good Russian title. To obtain govern
ment lands there is but one way, and
that is under the mining laws which
give posseSsorv title only, the holder
only retaining title as long as he does a
certain amount OF work Oh the claim
each year. If Gov. Swneford could
only get what he asks for. the develop
ment OF the country would be immense
-5
The Baltimore council of the Catholic
church has recently issued decree
commenting the societies called the
''Catholic union for promoting totai
abstinence" and admonishing those
engaged in the liquor traffic that it is
surrounded by great dangers and oc
casions for sin The decree declares
that whenever 1.-The faithful' can. they
must chose more honest means of
making a living; but in cases where
this cannot Ike done, under no circum-
stances must they sell to children. to
those who are not their own masters,
nor to those whom they foresee are
going to abuse drink. Bar-rooms must
be closed on Sunday, and swearing,
cursing and immodest conversation
within the walls OF their saloons, must
be strictly prohibited, and the prohibit
ton riyidly enforced. The decree
concludes by saying: If through their
culpable fault or cooperation religion
is brought into disrespect or men
dragged into ruin, let them remember
that there i. a indicator in heaven
who will most certainly visit on them
the most awful punishment.
A young clergyman who has been
aboring in the mountain regions OF
Kentucky says; The ministers in the
mountain regions are ignorant. They
never preach when there is an educated
person in the congregation. which
seldom happens The Methodist
ministers are little better than the
Baptist They generally own Bible
concordance, but they think they know
all there is to know. One minister
who listened to the debate on the shape
of the earth said ought to be drummed
out of the place for teaching such inf
deity. One man asked me to 90 home
with him and fix his clock. He thought
because had been to college | could
do anything Luckily for me happened
to fix the clock so it would go. The
ministers preach about once month
but never think of doing so every Sun
day One minister knew had beer
in the penitentiary, and it was my i'm
preston that he ought to have remained
there. The religious fervor of many o
them is above 100. while their morality
is at zero"
George w. Nellis, Jr., of Herkimer
n. Y, rode his wheel from that plac,
to San Francisco between May "a anC
Aug. 8. His expenses averaged 81 pc
day. His entire kit was in a 5x9 incl
grip. The distance was 1869 miles
The Detroit customs people bothered
hin, for no c,ma tbrouph Canada